Level



" w. SALT.

LEVEL.

APPLlCATlON FILED JULY 23, I918.

Patented June 3, 1919.

WELLINGTON SALT, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

LEVEL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 3, 1919.

Application filed July 23, 1918. Serial No. 246,295.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WELLINGTON SALT, a citizen of the United States of America, re siding at Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Levels, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates particularly to spirit levels and seeks to provide as its principal object a device of this character wherein its accuracy may be restored after having been impaired by extensive use.

Another object of the invention is the provision of means for shifting the leveling tube, so that vertical as well as horizontal observation may be made by the latter.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of this kind which may have the additional function of an inclinometer.

Still another object seeks to provide adevice which is simple in construction, which is durable and effective in operation and which may be manufactured at small cost.

Other and further objects will appear as the invention is set forth in detail in the description annexed.

To the exact construction as herein shown and described, the invention is not to be restricted. Certain desirable changes may be made manifest when the device is put into practical use and the rig-ht is claimed to make these provided they do not deviate from the scope of the subjoined claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan View of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the leveling tube and its attendant parts.

Referring to the drawing, there is shown the central portion of the stock 1 in which a transverse central aperture is formed. On one face the stock 1 is provided with a circular plate 3 which is attached thereto by means of suitable screws 4. The plate 3 has a central opening of slightly less diameter than the aperture 2 of the stock and this central opening is designed to be concentric with the central aperture.

A ring 5 is provided of a width equal to the thickness of the stock 1 and this ring carrles within it and disposed diametrically a spirit level tube 6 which is provided with the usual air bubble 7 the ends of the tube being fixed to the circular portion of the ring in any acceptable manner.

The outside diameter of the ring 5 is slightly greater than the opening in the plate 3 but at one end the outer circular surface of the ring is reduced in diameter so that it may readily enter the opening in the plate, that portion of the ring left where the latter is reduced providing a flange 8 which is overturned against the face of the ring 5 after the reduced portion has been made to enter the opening therein. It is not intended that the rigid connection shall obtain between the plate and the ring but that this connection shall be slidable, so that the ring may have relative angular movement with respect to the plate. An L-shaped member 9 has one of its legs secured on the inner circular portion of the ring at a point 90 degrees from the points where the level tube 6 is attached. The remaining leg of this L-shaped member lies against the outer face of the ring 5 and is provided with an elongated hole 10 so that any one of the screws 4: may be made to pass through this leg before entering the plate 3 and the stock 1. The hole 10 is elongated in order that the Lshaped member and the ring moved slightly to bring the level tube 6 in parallelism with either longitudinal edge of the stock, the washer 11 being provided for use under the screw which holds the 5 may be e L-shaped member to aid the head of the screw in gaining a firm frictional contact With the L-shaped member.

The screws which attach the plate 3 all lie in a circle which is concentric with the center of the ring 5. Therefore, the L-shaped member 9 may be attached underneath any of the four screws thus bringing the level tube 6 either in parallelism with the longitudinal edges of the stock 1 or at right angles thereto, the elongated hole 10 permitting the slight adjustment necessary to effect perfect angularity.

The plate 3 is angularly divided by suitable calibrations 12, while the free leg of the L-shaped member 9 is suitably marked with the radial line 13. If, the free leg be disengaged from that screw 4 which holds it, the ring 5 and with it the leve g tube may be moved angularly with respect to the stock 1 through approximately a quadrant of a circle. By this means, if the stock is set upon an incline and the ring 5 adjusted to bring the leveling tube 6 horizontally, at which time the line 13 will stand vertically. By estimating the calibrations 12 just behind this line 13, the number of angular units from the horizontal at which the stock stands will be indicated. It is thus shown that within reasonable limits the improved device is serviceable as an inclinometer.

The invention having been described, what is claimed as new and useful is:

1. A level comprising a stock having a transverse aperture, a circular plate secured to the stock and having a central opening in registration with the aperture, a ring connected with the plate and adapted for angular movement with respect thereto, a spirit level tube secured at diametrically opposite points in the ring, an L-shaped member having one leg attached to the ring at a point 90 degrees from the ends of the tube, and the other leg lying upon the face of the plate, and means for attaching the plate to the stock, said means cooperating with the L-shaped member to hold the tube in paral- 2 lelism or at right angles with the longitudinal edges of the stock.

2. A level comprising a stock having a transverse aperture, a circular plate attached to one face of the stock and having a central 3 opening in registration with said aperture,

a ring slidably connected with said plate, a leveling tube attached to said ring at diametrically opposite points, an L-shaped member having one leg attached to the ring 3 at a point 90 degrees from the ends of the said leveling tube and the other leg overlying the face of said plate, the last said leg being provided with an elongated hole, the plate being provided with holes placed 90 4 degrees apart and lying in a circle concentric with its center, and screws for attaching the plate to the stock, whereby any one of said screws may be utilized to secure the leveling tube in parallelism with or at right angles 4 to the longitudinal face of the stock.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

- WELLINGTON SALT.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

